Acts 15:6–21

THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL

6 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,B that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.d 9 He made no distinction between us and them,e cleansing their hearts by faith.f 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necksg that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the graceh of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

12 The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.i 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 SimeonA has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.j 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

16 After these things I will return

and rebuild David’s fallen tent.

I will rebuild its ruins

and set it up again,

17 so that the rest of humanity

may seek the Lord—

even all the Gentiles

who are called by my name—

declares the Lord

who makes these things 18 known from long ago.B,C, k

19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,l from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”m